Ball-bearing roller



Feb H, w47- E. E. sPRAGUE 2,45,

BALL 'BEARING ROLLER -Filed July 1'7, 1944 Patented Feb. `11, 1947 atraen BALL-BEARING ROLLER Earl E. Sprague, Grand Rapids, Mich., assigner to Raymond J. Scheiiler, Grand Rapids,v Micln Application July 17, 1944, Serial No. 545,259

2 claims. (c1. 301L5sz) l This invention relatesto an anti-friction bearing, and more particularly to a novel construction of anti-friction bearing which is self-lubricating, being provided with a chamber which may drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bearing structure of my invention, parts being broken away for interior disclosure, and

Fig. 2 is a central Vertical section through the complete bearing.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the figures of the drawing.

1 In the construction as shown, the bearing housing is formed of two parts, each of flat metal. One of said parts has a vertical central circular section I with a central opening 2 therethrough, and beyond the center section I the metal is pressed inwardly to form a substantially U- shaped rib 3, which is continued as an annular section 4 to the outside of the housing, said arinular section 4 at its outer edges being turned at right angles to form a continuous annular rim 5 which terminates in an inturned lip Ii as .best shown in Fig. 2. 'Ihe opposite part of the housing has a similar central circular section 1 with a central opening 8 through it, and an inwardly pressed annular rib 9 substantially duplicating in all respects the parts I 'and 3 and the opening 2 in the rst described part or side of the housing. Beyond the rib 9 the metal is continued as an yannular section I which terminates in an inwardly pressed continuous lip I I within the inturned annular lip 6.

A sleeve I2 passes through the openings 2 and 8-of the housing and substantially midway between its ends has a continuous groove I3 of concave form as shown. Within the central circular sections I and 1 flat lubricant retainers Il are located, each having a central opening of substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of the sleeve I2 so as to snugly iit thereagainst. l

Anti-friction balls I are disposed around the sleeve I2 seating in the groove I3, and as many of the balls are used as may be required to surround the sleeve with the balls closely adjacent to each other. Two ball retainers are provided, each made from a, circular plate of at metal stamped or pressed outwardly at their central portions to provide the curved sections I6 which bear against the outer portions of the balls I5, from which anges IT extend outwardly lying between the ribs 3 and 9. Said ball retainers also have central openings therethrough larger in dameter than the exterior diameter of the sleeve I2, through which the sleeve passes.

In the construction as described, when the parts are assembled and secured together by the spinning or other equivalent inward turning of the lip 6 against the edge of lip II, as shown,'a

continuous chamber at the outer portions of the housing is provided which is adapted to be wholly or partially lled with lubricant indicated at I8. Preferably the outer portions of the anges I1 will be spaced apart for a short distance for the free entrance of lubricant and, as shown in Fig. 2, there are spaces provided between the inner sides of the ribs 3 and 9 and the adjacent portions of the flanges Il. With this construction the lubricant tends to move inwardly between the ball retainers to the balls I5 and outside of the ball retainers and within the lubricant sealing members I4, supplying ample and suicient lubricant for the balls as they turn about the sleeve I2, yet sealing against the escape of lubricant. The

.sleeve I2 having a longitudinal opening through it from one end to the other is adapted to be placed over and secured to. a shaft or spindle around which the housing may rotate, or, reversely, the housing may remain xed and a shaft or spindle passed through and secured to the sleeve I2 may rotate by reason of the antifriction bearings within which the sleeve I2 is located.

The construction described is readily and easily manufactured, largely from stampings of flat metal, while the remaining parts are readily produced. The lubricant I8 -iilling the continuous chamber within the housing is sufllcient to supply lubricant normally required for the life 3 one 'at each side of the balls, said ball retainers having outwardly extending flanges, the inner sides of which are in engagement, said central member passing through the retainers, lubricant seals around said central member and through which said member passes, one at the outer side of each ball retainer. said seals closely engaging the surfaces oi' the central member, and a housing surrounding said ball retainers and seals, said housing having spaced sides through the central portion of which said central member passes and between which and the ball retainers the lubricant-'seals are positioned, said housing around the ilanges ot the ball retainers having a chamber to be illled with lubricant.

2. A construction having the elements denned in claim i, said sides of the housing belng formed with inwardly pressed annular ribs around the` central portion thereof, said ribs against the outer sides of the' nantes of the ball retainers.

EARL E. BPRAGUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent: f

Beemer June 19. 1928 

